Daft.ie<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cFor the last two years we\u2019ve called for rents to be reduced and frozen and the Bill in front of us today will do just that,\u201d Mr \u00d3 Broin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an emergency measure to give renters a breathing space, and to allow the Government to significantly invest in affordable rental accommodation for working people. We\u2019d like to see 2,000-3,000 units in affordable rent delivered next year and increasing the years after.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need the Government to stop using the private rental sector to meet social housing need. There\u2019s 100,000 social housing tenants in private rent which increases demand and price in the sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr \u00d3 Broin said there is a precedent for the tax break, having been previously introduced by Fianna F\u00e1il but ended in 2010.<\/p>\n
The Bill is expected to gain cross-party support, with a frontbench meeting of main opposition party Fianna F\u00e1il expected to back the measure in an emergency capacity ahead of the debate in the D\u00e1il on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opposition has the numbers to pass this through,\u201d Mr \u00d3 Broin added.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiche\u00e1l Martin only two weeks ago at Leaders\u2019 Questions said he believed the Government should consider a rent freeze, so it\u2019s time for Fianna F\u00e1il to decide are they on the side of renters.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was put to Mr \u00d3 Broin that the Government is likely to argue that corporate landlords will be disincentivized to provide housing during a freeze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen about an extra 3,000 rental properties come on to the market in the last two quarters, and the reason why is because the real estate investment trusts pay no tax on the rental, no capital gains tax, and get very, very favorable tax treatment, alongside the fact that the rents are charging at the highest in the history of the state,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if anybody says freezing rents at that level is any way going to disincentivize investment, they\u2019re not looking at the numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s position on the Bill, the party\u2019s health spokesman, Stephen Donnelly, said the freeze would have to be a short-term measure.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment, more extreme measures have to be considered and a rent freeze is one, and one that Miche\u00e1l Martin has advocated for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy own view is, in an emergency you have to look at a lot of different options, and the reality is people can\u2019t afford to pay their rent and an entire generation has given up on owning a home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last week, a survey found that Dublin was ranked the worst city on Earth in which to find affordable accommodation.<\/p>\n
The Expat City Ranking 2018 cited a combination of soaring rents and stagnant housing stock.<\/p>\n
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An emergency measure to freeze rents across Ireland has been brought to the D\u00e1il by Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n